What you need to know before entering a foreign university

1. Choosing a country of study and educational program

These two points are deliberately combined into one point. If you have at least roughly decided on the direction of study, then it is important not to be mistaken with a suitable country.

For technical specialties, it is better to go to Germany, the Czech Republic and the United States - countries historically leading in advanced technologies, mechanical engineering and innovation. Also, do not forget about the countries of Asia: Singapore, South Korea, Japan and China. They are now at the forefront of technological development.

For a degree in design and fashion, it is better to go to sunny Italy or sophisticated France - the home of world famous brands and couturiers. If you are interested in ecology, environmental protection and protection of human rights, choose the Scandinavian countries (Sweden, Finland, Norway) or Switzerland. They are global activists in these areas. But remember that there can always be exceptions to this rule.

2. Choosing a university

Once you have decided on the country of study and specialty, it is worth choosing the most suitable university. Here it is worth paying attention to the cost and rating not only of the university itself, but also of the specifically selected program. One of the most useful resources is The Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

It is also advisable to take into account how comfortable the university is for teaching foreign students, whether there is the necessary adaptation support and international programs.

It is important to choose the type of university: private or public. A private university exists at the expense of its own earned funds and sponsors. In it, education will be quite expensive, but more elite. Public universities are funded by government funds. Education there is more affordable (up to $ 1,000 per semester).

Education in a private university is not always of better quality. For example, the University of California at Berkeley is public and Stanford is private. But at the same time, these two universities have historically competed for the best students.

3. Preparation of documents

The final list of documents depends on a specific country, university and program. But the general minimum set of required documents usually looks like this:

Notarized translation of the diploma of previous education (school certificate for undergraduate and bachelor's / specialist's diploma for graduate).
Notarized translation of the app with grades.
Motivation letter. This is one of the most important documents that will present you in a favorable light.
Letters of recommendation.
Language certificates. For teaching in English - IELTS (from 6, 5) or TOEFL. For teaching in other languages, appropriate international certificates are required.
Additional exams. For example, GMAT / GRE for Master's in Business and Finance or Portfolio for Designers and Artists.

4. Selection of scholarships and grants

There are several main types of scholarships and grants:

State. Given by the government of the receiving or sending country. As a rule, they are not tied to a specific university and specialty, they can be chosen independently.
Universities. Given for applicants to a specific university.
External foundations and organizations. Sufficiently targeted, cover a specific direction or program. They are the hardest to find information about.

The number of scholarships and grants is also highly dependent on the country and specialty.

There are a limited number of aggregators of information about scholarships and grants:

Germany - DAAD;
France - CampusFrance;
China - CSC Scholarships.

Basic information is presented there in foreign languages, including English. Of the Russian-language resources, it is worth highlighting StudyQA and the StudyFree project, where information about current scholarships and grants appears several times a week.

5. Terms of admission

As a rule, documents for admission to a foreign university are submitted in March-June in order to start studying in September. By this time, you should have all the exam results and other documents on hand.

However, the deadline for applying for scholarships ends much earlier. Applications for large scholarships at prestigious universities stop accepting in September-October for programs starting next fall. Some universities finish accepting applications in November-February. Most major scholarships no longer consider applicants after March.

By the time you apply for the scholarship, you must have a package of documents ready. This means that you need to prepare at least a year in advance, and preferably a year and a half.

To enter a foreign university with full funding is real. You just need to not be intimidated by the process itself, start studying the issue in advance, choose the direction and country, prepare all the documents. If you realize that the process is too complicated, you can always turn to special educational agencies for help, which will solve all the questions for you.